Corn-header.



H. H. HOOPER.

CORN HEADER. 'APPLICATION FILED mm2, 1915.

l, 181 ,527. H Patented May 2, 1916.

@MTRR @FATE FATE FFQE.

HOWARD HENRY I-IOOPER, OF MIDLAND, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JACK IVI. JEMISON, 0F MIDLAND, TEXAS.

\ conn-Hennen.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it lrnown that l, HOWARD H. Hoornn, citizen of the United States, residing at Midland, in the county of Midland and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Headers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices employed for the removal of the heads vof cereals, such as Kafir corn, broom-corn, for the heading of maize, and for like purposes, and has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and increase the utility and eficiency of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device adapted to be supported upon the hand of the operator and carrying a cutting blade so that the hand may be utilized to simultaneously grasp and sever the product.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in whichthe cutting blade is reversibly and adjustably attached to the hand engaging portion of the member to adapt the device to the right vor left hand, and likewise to change the angle of the cutting blade relative to the supporting portion of the member.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved implement attached to a hand; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the improved implement; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detailin section on the line 4--41 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 represents detached perspective views of the blade clamping members.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved implement comprises a body or stock preferably formed of co-acting members 10-11 slidably engaging and united by a cla-mp bolt 12, one of the members, for instance the member 11, having a longitudinal slot 13 through which the bolt 12 operates, to enable the members 10-11 to be adjusted longitudinally. The member 10 is formed with a curved outer portion 141, while the member 11 is provided with a curved portion 15, the two curved portions designed to fit over the hand of the operator, and by adjusting the members 10-11 through the medium of the clamp bolt, the co-acting members may be adjusted to iit the hand of the operator. The members 10-11 are slightly curved transversely, as indicated in Fig. 3, so that they present a better gripping surface to the hand, and to likewise prevent lateral displacement, or a swinging movement upon the clamp bolt. The member 11 is extended beyond the curved portion 15, as shown at 16, and a cylindrical body 17 is attached to the rear face of the portion 16 and likewise to the curved portion 15. The interior of the cylindrical portion 17 communicates through the portion 16 and the opening is reduced as shown at 18. Located within the cylindrical member 17, is a body formed in two parts 19-20, each semicylindrical in outline and of less combined width than the interior of the cylinder, whereby a space 21 is left between the two parts 19-20- At its terminals, the cylindrical members 19-20 are rounded as shown, and after the cylindrical members are inserted within the shell 17, the terminal opposite to the reduced opening 18 is bent inwardly, as shown at 22 to engage the adjacent curved terminals of the members 1.9-9.0, as illustrated in Fig. al.. By this means, the members 19-20 are maintained in position within the cylindrical member 17 and are prevented from endwise movement by the contracted portion 18 at one end and the crimped portion 22 at the opposite end, while at the same time leaving the two parts 19-20 free to be spaced'apart a sufficient extent to receive the reduced terminal 9.3 of a cutting blade, the blade having a knife edge 24:. A clamp screw 25, having a winged head 26, operates through the cylindrical shell 17 to bear against the members 1920 and clamp them against the cutting blade. The members 19--20 are free to rotate within the cylindrical shell 17 so that the blade 23-24 may be adjusted at any angle relative to the hand engaging portion of the device, aswill be obvious, and clamped at any desired angle by actuating the set screw 25-26.

rIhe parts 10-1et and 11-15, together with their attachments, are preferably constructed of steel as light as possible consistent with the strains to which they will be subjected. v

By adjusting the members 10-11 through the medium of the clamp bolt 12, the device may be adapted to hands of various sizes, and may likewise be adapted for use with or without a glove or other like hand protector.

The devices may be employed in pairs, one for each hand, and the cutting blades adjusted to cut right or left, as may be preferred, but as no change of structure is required to duplicate the devices and adapt them to the right or left, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate this operation.

The implement may be arranged for use upon either hand of the operator by simply reversing or adjusting the cutting blade.

The curved portion 14 of the member 10 is provided with a transverse terminal aperture 34E, while the curved portion 15 of the member l1 is provided with a similar transverse aperture 35, the apertures being designed to receive links for supporting a holding strap, if preferred.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

`1. In a device of the class described, a body adapted to be supported upon a hand and including a guard extending there- Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the from and having a blade receiving aperture, a cylindrical shell of less diameter than the width of the guard and shielded thereby and extending rearwardly Vof the guard, the aperture of the .guard communieating with the interior of the shell, coacting clamp members rotative within said shell and adapted to receive the stock of a cutting blade when inserted through the guard aperture, and means for applying strain to said coacting` clamp members to adjustably and reversibly support the cutting blade.

2. In a device of the class described, a body adapted to be supported upon a hand and including a guard extending therefrom and having a transverse aperture, a cylindrical shell of less diameter than the width of the guard and shielded thereby and extending rearwardly of the guard, the aperture of the guard communicating with the interior of the shell, coacting clamp members rotative within said shell, a cutting blade having' a stock for engaging through said aperture and between the clamp members, and means for applying strain to said coacting clamp members to adjustably and reversibly support the cuting blade.

In testimony whereofl I affix my signature inthe presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD HENRY ricorra. [as] Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D; C. 

